STANTON, Mich. — It’s the characters who give our towns character. Such is the truth for Gerald Wellman.
“Everybody knows me as Papa Gnome," said Gerald.
He's visiting the Montcalm County Commission on Aging for a sweet surprise this Valentine's Day. Gerald was asked to deliver carnations to all of their visitors in his usual full apparel — a two-foot-tall gnome hat covered in candy hearts and a cupid costume.
Fine artist or oddball. Gerald lays claim to both.
“I do laugh at some of the stuff that I wear and some of the stuff that I do, yeah," he said. “But I've been doing it... I realized that putting smiles on people's faces made me happy.”
Though the carnation of Gerald Wellman is now in full bloom, his petals once wilted.
“I was in a really dark place," he said.
“I was a chef, I helped open many different restaurants around the area. During COVID, we were the first ones shoved out the door, " explained Gerald. “When we came back, everybody was mean and upset. I decided that I was going to retire.”
That's when Gerald found what he needed most: A gnome hat.
“I couldn't wear ball caps, because he made my head itch," he said. "So, I made a gnome hat.”
“I wore it in the store and the reactions that I got from everybody. I was like, how can I not wear this hat anymore? All of a sudden, I became Papa Gnome."
A persona that glued this gnome’s heart of glass back together again.
“I was looking for a purpose. There's my purpose," said Gerald.
The once-wilted flowers in his garden sprouted again with a new season for all to enjoy his beautiful colors. And his colorful personality.
“It was extra nice that he was handing out not just flowers, but hugs! Because we all need hugs," smiled Donna Evans, who was at the event.
“Lots of smiles, really kind of perked up our day," said Mary Sherd, who Gerald sang 'Happy Birthday' to.
“That’s what Valentine’s Day is all about," said Donna.
Gerald Wellman may be a character. But this Valentine’s Day, it’s his character that shows gnome is where the heart is.
“If I can do this, that little thing, I feel I accomplished something,” he smiled. "All I want is to make people happy."
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